Page last updated on June 12, 2024 at 9:32 am
Transitions can be difficult for all involved -- you, your family, your pets, and most of all, for the new dog you are bringing home. Shelters are stressful, overstimulating environments that can cause dogs to act out in ways they might not normally act. Even if your foster pet is coming from a different foster home, it’s important to keep in mind that your new pet needs time to adjust to living in your home.
The first week after bringing a dog into your home is the most critical time to set your foster dog up for success. Giving your foster dog time to decompress and adjust to your home is vital. Taking these extra steps will help ensure a smooth transition for humans and pets.
Dog-Proofing Your Home
Before bringing any new animal into your home, it is a good idea to relocate any items that you would be upset to lose. You will also want to remove the following items from the spaces your foster dog will have access to: poisonous house plants, cleaning supplies, shoes, electrical cords, clothes (especially socks and underwear), and anything else you think your foster dog may get into or destroy.
Setting up Their Space
We recommend setting up a designated space for your foster dog upon bringing them into your home. This should be a secluded space that they can access at any time where they can decompress and relax after their time in the shelter. Spaces like a bathroom, laundry room, or guest space make great decompression areas for your foster dog. You want to make this space feel cozy and safe, and it should include their crate, food and water, toys, and a bed/blankets. What is important is that they have their own safe space that they can retreat to whenever they need to.
Socializing
Once your foster dog has had a chance to decompress, you can begin socializing them! You should always allow your foster dog to approach you first, and should never force yourself on your foster dog. If you have an especially nervous dog, or they are not the biggest fan of humans, you should start slowly by sitting in the same room as them, talking to them, and offering treats. Ultimately, you want to show your foster dog that they can trust you, along with other humans so that they can better find their forever home.
Helping Your Foster Dog Find Their Forever Home
You are your foster's biggest advocate when it comes to finding their forever home! You are able to see first hand how they behave, what they like and dislike, and you most likely have an abundance of adorable photos. We encourage you to share these updates and photos with us, so that we can update our website for potential adopters to see. Knowing how an animal does in their foster home is a crucial part of getting to know them, and also helps us to find them the best fitting forever family. Visit our Marketing your Foster webpage for more information and tips on how to help your foster find their forever home!
Common behaviors during transitions:
House training. We may or may not know if your shelter dog is already house trained, but even the most perfectly house-trained dog may have accidents in a new home. Expect this. Your new dog will need to know where the potty-area is at his/her new home and will need to learn how to let you know they have to go out. Don’t let your new dog roam the house unattended until you know that they have fully learned about house training in his/her new home.
Separation worries. It is common for dogs to be nervous in a new home and worried that they are being abandoned. They may try to follow you everywhere and whine, cry, bark or howl when they can’t see you. Use enrichment toys to give them something to do while they are alone. Try to be patient with them while they learn that they are now in a safe home. If your dog’s stress about being alone persists, please reach out to us for help as they may be suffering from separation anxiety.
Fear toward you or other members of your home. It’s not uncommon for a new dog to accept some of the family members but not others. Go slow with the new dog and allow him time to warm up to each person individually. It could take weeks for your new dog to learn to trust new humans but with time and patience it usually works out.
Hyper / Over arousal. Some dogs will sleep a LOT for several days and seem a bit lethargic. This is normal. The opposite may be true for other dogs - they have a hard time relaxing and you could experience hyperactivity and/or destructive chewing. Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise and provide enrichment toys when they are alone.
Not eating. It’s not uncommon for dogs not to for a day or two while they are de-stressing. As long as the dog is drinking water and peeing normally it’s probably just part of the process. Continue to provide food and try leaving the food in their quiet space/crate to see if they will eat when you are not watching them. The opposite can also be true and your dog could be eating but experiencing diarrhea due to stress, change in environment, etc. If they have eaten nothing in 2 or more days, or diarrhea persists beyond a day, please contact BACC.
Safety Tips:
While dogs are transitioning into a new home, there is a higher likelihood to see fearful behavior and escape attempts. These behaviors may decrease within the first few weeks, or it may just be part of the dog’s personality. Here are some easy tips to keep in mind to prevent any escapes:
Around Doors. Be extra aware around doorways. A new dog does not have a connection with you yet, and may try to bolt out the door when you open it, even if you only have the door cracked open for a moment. The same is true with exiting cars - be extra cautious letting the dog out of the car, and make sure you have hold of their leash before you let them out of the car. We encourage you to clip leash handles through seat belts whenever possible.
In the Yard. If you have a yard, do not leave your dog unattended outside. Some dogs can jump over or dig under fences, either just because they want to escape, or because they see something on the other side. Keep them supervised in the yard while you are learning about your dog’s behaviors.
On Leash. Be sure to be vigilant while walking your dog. Some dogs may dart unexpectedly at/away from loud noises, small animals, big trucks, or other triggers. If you are not holding the leash tightly, they could pull out of your hand and run away, potentially into harm's way. Do not assume they will walk politely the whole time, and do not let children walk the dog.
Gear. Keep a lightweight leash (“drag leash”) attached to your dog’s collar for the first week, or until you are confident they are comfortable with you, your other animals and your family. Don’t hold the leash; just let it drag on the ground behind them even indoors. Use this as a point of contact instead of grabbing for their collar if you have to guide them around. Also keep a Martingale Collar on your dog. This type of collar prevents your pup from slipping out of their collar on walks. BACC provides all fosters with a Martingale.
Body Language. There are several signs that a dog is scared or uncomfortable to be aware of. Wide eyes, pinned back ears, tail tucked, excessive drooling (without food around) and lip licking are all signs that your pup is uncomfortable. If you see any of these signs, back off and give them space; do not force your dog to continue in a situation they are uncomfortable in. Let them set the pace with your relationship, even if it is slower than you expected.
With Children. Please teach your children, and any children that visit, never to pull, hit, or poke any part of your dog and never to tease, frighten, or scream around the dog. Please provide reasonable supervision for children at all times with a new dog. If the dog or the child appears unsure or nervous, be safe and put the dog in another room. Dogs should have a safe place in the house they can go to at all times.